FORMER paratrooper Jack Marshman will look to make the first successful defence of his Cage Warriors middleweight title when he returns home to Wales on Saturday October 15.

Former Army boxing champion Marshman takes on Andreas Michailidis in the main event of CWFC 79, live on BT Sport and UFC Fight Pass at the Newport Centre in Wales with the former serviceman looking to kickstart his championship reign with an impressive victory.

Dolly Clew / Cage Warriors

Defending champion: Cage Warriors middleweight champ Jack Marshman

A veteran of 25 pro fights, with a record of 20 wins, 5 losses, Marshman has steadily progressed into one of the best 185lb fighters in Britan and became a promotional world champion for the first time in his career when he knocked out Frenchman Christophe in the first round in London to claim the vacant title.

Now riding a six-fight win streak, the 26-year-old from Abertillery returns to Wales with championship gold around his waist and he’ll face Michailidis, who comes into the fight on a two-fight win streak and a 7-2 record.

But with wins over the likes of Bola Omoyele (at CWFC 69), former UFC fighter Che Mills (at CWFC 72) and Ali Arish (at CWFC 7) Marshman has a wealth of experience to lean on when he puts his newly-won belt on the line on October 15.

Former UFC star Mills also makes his return to action on the same card, where he takes on UK MMA veteran Lewis Long, while another name familiar to UFC fans, TUF graduate Martin Svensson, returns to Cage Warriors for a second stint and will face Scott Clist in a lightweight clash.